A/N PLEASE READ: Hey guys, I've decided to end this story. I'm really sorry, but I just have a lot going on these next few weeks and I don't want to be writing this after the Finale has aired. I don't want to leave you guys with nothing, so I'm publishing what was going to be the last scene.

I hope you enjoy, and thank you all for the kind reviews you've left these last few months. It's been a pleasure to write for you all.

CALLIE

It was inevitable.

Her and Brandon.

And she'd decided that instead of running from it, or hiding it, or making up lies, or other explanations of her feelings that it was about time she just accept it. Embrace it. Because, really, it was all she'd wanted since that fateful first kiss at the wedding-to be able to wrap her arms around his neck, to kiss him, to tease him, to flirt with him, to love him, and to not be worried, or even care, if someone saw. She didn't care if the whole world knew how she felt about Brandon Foster; in fact, she wished she could tell them all. Every last person on earth. Wished she could shout it from the rooftops.

So, it was because of this inevitability that Callie found herself outside Mike Fosters' apartment building at approximately six pm one chilly December night. She knew that Brandon Foster was, without a doubt, inside the apartment complex having a weekly family dinner with his dad, Ana, Isabella and AJ. Oblivious to the fact that she was outside, and she needed to talk to him. Finally she worked up the courage to make her presence known. To knock.

Once.

Twice.

Six times in a row.

Please be Brandon, please be Brandon. If Brandon opened this door right now, that would make everything so much simpler. Please. She thought desperately, but, she was never quite so lucky, and much to her disappointment AJ opened the door. Her heart sank. If it hadn't been Brandon to answer, Callie would've hoped for Mike or Ana, really anyone except AJ. Anyone except her ex-boyfriend. Even if they were on good terms. She didn't want to express her feelings for Brandon in front of him. She didn't want to hurt him anymore than she already had.

"Hey, Callie!" AJ greeted her excitedly, happily unaware of the circumstances that had brought her to his door that evening.

"I need to speak to Brandon," Callie said quickly. There was no time for small talk, not now, she'd talk to AJ later, right now she needed to tell Brandon something. Something incredibly important. Before she chickened out. Before she changed her mind.

AJ seemed to sense her urgency, and although he did was she asked, calling Brandon to the door, the young man was unable to hide the twinge of sadness in his voice. Callie's heart twisted. No. She told herself, pushing any sympathetic thoughts away. Do not feel bad for AJ right now, this is supposed to be a good moment. A great moment. A moment you'll relieve again and again...

"Callie?" Brandon's voice brought the brunette from her thoughts and she smiled shyly up at him.

"Hey," her voice was a whisper. "Can we talk?"

"Well, I'm actually eating dinner right now. Ana made this really fantastic lasagna, better than Lena's...don't tell her I said that. Could it wait until after? You could come in?" Brandon rambled, and Callie couldn't help but chuckle softly. Brandon had no idea what she was there to do. He was rambling about lasagna; in fact, he considered the freaking lasagna to be more important than what Callie was about to say. She, for one, would never let him live that down.

"Dude!" AJ exclaimed, causing both Callie and Brandon to look over at him. "Forget about the damn lasagna and go talk to the girl," he pushed Brandon towards the door, before stalking off, mumbling something a long the lines of how dorky Brandon was under his breath. Callie turned and headed back into the hallway for a bit of privacy, Brandon followed suit. When she turned to face him, he was running a hand through his hair. Her heartbeat quickened at the sight of him, as it so often did, although this time Callie wasn't sure whether it had to do with Brandon, or what she was planning on doing, probably both.

"Brandon," the young girl began slowly. "I've lived in too many places in my short seventeen-years. First it was two or three homes with mom and Donald, then it was in and out of foster home after foster home. When Jude and I came here I thought I'd finally found my home, and I had. I'd found my home, I'd found my family, but only months later I was moving my things to Robert's. I was finally adopted, but everything was messed up. I was confused, unsure what exactly it is what I wanted..." Callie paused, meeting Brandon's gaze straight on. "But, I know what I want now. I know what I deserve," she flashed the older boy a slight smirk as her words mimicked the ones that had preceded their first kiss.

"And?" Brandon's voice lowered, and Callie felt a shiver course through her entire body.

"I've been running for so long. I want to stop running, I want to settle down. I want to build something permanent. I want a family. A future. So many people have left me over the years, and I want, I need this time to be different." Callie's voice caught in her throat. There was so much more she wanted to say, but couldn't. Not then. She could talk to Brandon later, yes, they'd have many months, many years to talk.

"I'm not leaving," Brandon's voice was deep, sexy. "I'm never leaving."

Callie's breath caught in her throat.

"This is permanent. We're permanent."

And then she was kissing him.

It wasn't your typical fairy-tale reunion. They weren't kissing in the rain. He hadn't just serenaded her with a song, or professed his love for her over a fancy dinner. They were just in the tight, damp, dark hallways of an apartment complex. But Callie didn't care.

It was their reunion, and most importantly it was a reunion that promised a future. It was a reunion unlike the ones they had experienced in the past. It was a reunion that held no uncertainty, or would risk breaking anyone's hearts.

It was a reunion that was permanent.

When they finally pulled a part Callie stared up at him. Grinning. Brandon grinned back. Their foreheads touched.

"Hey," Brandon murmured.

"Hey," Callie echoed, a smirk slowly spreading across her face.

"What?" Brandon pressed. "Am I that bad a kisser?" He teased.

Callie pressed a short kiss to his lips, "No, but you do taste like lasagna."

At that Brandon's stomach rumbled, and a blush crept into his cheeks.

"It is, really good lasagna," he promised.

"Well it'd better be, considering you almost chose it over me." Callie teased.

"How was I supposed to know you wanted to make-out in the hallway?" Brandon defended.

"Lasagna really?"

"I'm never gonna live this down am I?"

Callie intertwined their fingers. "Nope," she met his gaze. "But, I am hungry, and from what I can tell, that lasagna tastes pretty good."

Brandon tugged her hand towards the door. "You wanna stay for dinner?"

"It's a date," Callie quipped.

"God, no. That would be an awful first date." He wrinkled his nose. "It's weird to think that after everything we've never been on an actual date."

Callie laughed, "I don't see what's wrong with this being our first?"

Brandon's eyes widened. "You have to be kidding. A dinner date around my kitchen table with my dad, his girlfriend, her baby, and my foster-brother who's also your ex-boyfriend? That's a recipe for disaster."

"He's not my ex-boyfriend!" Callie said with a groan, adding. "I'm already meeting the parents how fun."

"We literally have the same mom..." Brandon trailed off. "That's weird to think about."

"Let's not."

So they didn't.

And, the lasagna? It was good. Better than Lena's even, though Callie and Brandon would never admit it to her face, not if they wanted to keep all their limbs that is. However, six years later when the pair was discussing possible meals for their wedding reception Ana's lasagna was at the top of their list.

THE END